The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 2026
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2023
Mtd Products Inc, Valley City, OH (US);
Jay Maggard, Polk, OH (US);
Zachary A. Lyzen, Seattle, WA (US);
MTD Products Inc, Valley City, OH (US);
Abstract
Selectively powered caster wheels for a maintenance apparatus are described. A motor attached to the caster wheel(s) can be selectively powered to apply force to the caster wheel. This force can be selected to overcome another force sensed at the maintenance apparatus, or to steer the maintenance apparatus on a desired course or direction. The caster wheels can be configured to orient along a direction of motion of the maintenance apparatus, in response to power from the motor or in response to the motion of the maintenance apparatus itself. In further embodiments, the motor(s) can be selectively activated or deactivated by an operator of the maintenance apparatus, in response to a remote control signal, or in response to an onboard or offboard controller of the apparatus.